TWO long title droughts came to an end as the NCAA Season 101 volleyball tournaments delivered a pair of breakthrough finishes.
Letran authored the bigger shock, dethroning four-time defending champion Benilde, 15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12, in a gripping Game 3 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
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At the center of it all was Mayeth Carolino, the same key figure who led the Lady Knights to their last title in Season 74 as a player, who completes a full-circle moment 28 years later in her first season as head coach with their ninth crown.
“Sobrang saya. Ito ‘yong laging pinagppray namin, bago pa lang kami mag-start, day one pa lang, gusto na agad namin mag-champion,” said Carolino, who also took Coach of the Year honors.
“Sa mga players ko, thank you sa inyong lahat. You made history.”
Two of Carolino’s bold calls in the rubber match proved to be title-clinching masterstrokes.
Joralyn Panangin came in as a service specialist late in the tiebreak and delivered the championship point, an ace that dropped in Zone 6 to finally break Benilde’s grip on the throne.
Off the bench, Verenicce Colendra erupted for a team-high 23 points, while Vanessa Sarie added 19. Gia Maquilang also racked up a triple-double with 17 points, 17 receptions, and 13 digs.
But it was Judiel Nitura who took Finals MVP honors, finishing with eight points in the decider after putting up 21 in Game 1 and nine in Game 2.
Benilde had its chances, with Season 101 MVP Zam Nolasco unloading 27 points from the middle, backed by Clydel Catarig’s 17 and Shekainah Lleses’ 12, but the five-peat ultimately slipped away.
Taft still crowned
Benilde still salvaged gold on the men’s side, ensuring the volleyball crown stayed in Taft.
The Blazing Spikers secured only their second NCAA men’s volleyball championship with a straight-sets sweep of Mapua, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21, in Game 3.
Head coach Arnold Laniog, a Benilde alumnus himself, added another title to his resumé nine years since his first in Season 92.
"Very fulfilling talaga kasi after pandemic, 'yung volleyball program ng Benilde nag-back to zero. Then going to first season ng pandemic, pang-number seven kami so tiyaga rin lang," Laniog said.
The clincher came off a costly attack error from Barbie San Andres, sealing the deal for Benilde.
Finals MVP Reymark Betco led with 17 points, following up his 33-point explosion in Game 2. Last season's rookie-MVP Rocky Motol added 15 points and 15 receptions, while Chris Villanueva orchestrated the offense with 30 excellent sets.
Mapua, paced by Arjay Ramos’ 11 points and 10 digs, saw its 24-year title drought drag on.
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